Dell XPS 15z available in Australia and Asia, fits Sandy Bridge in under an inch of thickness

Dell's XPS 15z goes on sale in the US, shiny aluminum is yours from $999

The Dell XPS 15z may not be the gamechanger we'd hoped for, but it's one heck of a Windows PC, and today the aluminum and magnesium alloy machine is on sale in the United States starting at $999. You'll find a total of five different configs available online, with the base model providing a 2.3GHz Core i5-2410M processor, 6GB of DDR3 RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT525M graphics with 1GB of dedicated video memory, a 500GB 7200RPM hard drive and a slot-loading DVD burner, plus loads of connectivity inside and out -- including dual-band 802.11a/g/n and a pair of USB 3.0 ports. (Whew.) $1,500 ups the ante to a 2.7GHz Core i7 rig with 8GB of RAM, 2GB of VRAM and 750GB of rotating storage, not to mention a nice bright 1080p display. Strangely, there's no solid state option on tap, but you can nab that 300-nit, 1920 x 1080 LCD screen for an additional Benjamin no matter which config you choose. Find all your options at our source link, and while you're at it, why not read our full review?

First in a Series of New Thin, Ultra-powerful Laptops from Dell This Year

ROUND ROCK, Texas, May 24, 2011 – Dell today introduced the XPS 15z laptop, the thinnest 15-inch PC on the planet, and the first in a series of new thin and ultra-powerful products from Dell to come this year. With the XPS 15z, everyone from mobile warriors to students and small-business owners now have everything they need to work hard and play hard in one stunning package.

A leading-edge combination of uncompromising power and stunning design, the XPS 15z offers 2nd-generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, optional 15.6-inch Full HD (1080p) display for superior entertainment and web-browsing experiences, a backlit keyboard with adjustable brightness and up to eight hours of battery life[ii] – all housed in a luxurious, eye-catching and elegantly crafted case that is less than an inch thick.

The XPS 15z is the first in a series of upcoming thin Inspiron- and XPS-branded products that deliver the ultimate blend of style and performance so you can pursue your personal passions.

"The XPS 15z delivers uncompromising performance in our most beautifully designed laptop yet," said Sam Burd, vice president of Dell's Consumer and Small/Medium Business product group. "It delivers all the must-have features -- from next-generation Intel Core i processors for incredible performance to optional full HD screens that are up to 50 percent brighter than standard displays – all in a stunning form factor that makes it the thinnest 15-inch PC on the planet."

"The XPS 15z provides a glimpse into a series of visually stunning and powerful systems coming soon to our consumer and small-to-medium-business product portfolio," said Steve Felice, president of Dell's Consumer and Small/Medium Business group. "We're committed to introducing next-generation products that help people pursue their personal and professional passions."

Less Mass, More Appeal

A technology package perfect for pumping out spectacular, media-rich office presentations or watching the latest award-winning movies, the XPS 15z includes 2nd generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, a brilliant 15.6-inch WLED display with a Full HD option that has almost two times the HD resolution of standard HD displays, NVIDIA graphics with 3DTV play capabilities[iii], built-in WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, USB 3.0 and a backlit keyboard.

Despite its incredibly slim exterior, the XPS 15z delivers uncompromising performance, including NVIDIA discrete graphics with Optimus technology that automatically switches to power-saving integrated graphics under reduced workloads, helping the battery last longer on coast-to-coast flights and for movie marathons. In addition, it offers ample hard drive storage and a slot-loading DVD +/- RW drive for watching the latest movies or burning music to a disc. And the optional Full HD (1080p) display brings HDTV-type quality to the laptop screen.

Advanced wireless features make XPS 15z your go-to device from the road or the living room. Built-in Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity ensure it's fast and easy to connect with e-mail, websites, Skype and Facebook from almost anywhere[iv]. For at-home entertainment, the optional Intel Wireless Display[v] feature enables videos and photos to be streamed wirelessly from your XPS 15z to an HDMI-equipped TV. And with the exclusive Dell Stage user interface, it's easy to access personal content such as music, photos and videos.

At first glance, the XPS 15z design, with its clean aluminum design, appears like it floats above the surface, and the polished, brushed finishes with sophisticated accents add to a luxurious appearance.

Priced from $999, the XPS 15z, like all XPS computers, is designed and built from the ground up to provide a premium computing experience with the best materials, technology, performance and reliability Dell offers.

Availability:

The XPS 15z is available today from Dell's global online stores, including www.dell.com in the United States, with retail availability to follow shortly.

[i] Tested system equipped with 8-cell battery, 4GB memory, nVidia GeForce GT 525M graphics, Intel Core i5-2410M, and 500GB/7200RPM hard drive. Based on testing using the Mobile Mark 2007 battery life benchmark test. For more information about this benchmark test, visit "http://www.bapco.com". Test results should be used only to compare one product with another and are not a guarantee you will experience the same battery life. Battery life may be significantly less than the test results and varies depending on your product's configuration, software, usage, operating conditions, power management settings and other factors. Maximum battery life will decrease with time and use.

[ii] Tested system equipped with 8-cell battery, 4GB memory, nVidia GeForce GT 525M graphics, Intel Core i5-2410M, and 500GB/7200RPM hard drive. Based on testing using the Mobile Mark 2007 battery life benchmark test. For more information about this benchmark test, visit "http://www.bapco.com". Test results should be used only to compare one product with another and are not a guarantee you will experience the same battery life. Battery life may be significantly less than the test results and varies depending on your product's configuration, software, usage, operating conditions, power management settings and other factors. Maximum battery life will decrease with time and use.

[iii] 3DTV play capabilities: 3D glasses and NVIDIA compliant 3D TV required and sold separately. For a list of compatible 3D TVs,visit http://www.nvidia.com/object/3d-tv-play.html.

[iv] Where wireless access is available. Additional access charges apply in some locations.

[xii] Tested system equipped with 8-cell battery, 4GB memory, nVidia GeForce GT 525M graphics, Intel Core i5-2410M, and 500GB/7200RPM hard drive. Based on testing using the Mobile Mark 2007 battery life benchmark test. For more information about this benchmark test, visit "http://www.bapco.com". Test results should be used only to compare one product with another and are not a guarantee you will experience the same battery life. Battery life may be significantly less than the test results and varies depending on your product's configuration, software, usage, operating conditions, power management settings and other factors. Maximum battery life will decrease with time and use.